SFDCI grad earns athletic scholarship to Utica College
Posted May 12, 2011 By Ryland Coyne
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Ryland Coyne, Smiths Falls EMC
Kelsey Dowdall poses outside the new Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre. She has accepted an athletic scholarship to Utica College where she will play on the Pioneers women's hockey team.
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EMC Sports - She may be small in stature. But what Kelsey Dowdall may lack in size she more than makes up for in heart.
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At left, this submitted photo shows her racing up the ice during PWHL action with the Nepean Wildcats this past season.
It's that determination and hard work that earned her a spot on the Nepean Wildcats Intermediate AA women's hockey team this past season. And it's that same strength of character, not to mention talent, that's earned her an NCAA scholarship at Utica College in Utica, N.Y.
"She's a very tough forward to play against," says her Wildcats coach Fay McLaughlin, noting her work ethic was second to none. "She worked as hard in practice as she did in games."
Kelsey grew up watching her big brother Taylor play with teams in the Smiths Falls Minor Hockey Association before joining the local girls' program as a novice at age 9. She already had a love of hockey before first lacing up her skates, but that just continued to grow as she progressed through the sport.
"Smiths Falls had a great girls hockey program with really great coaches," she said. "I felt really comfortable there."
She moved up to play with the Rideau St. Lawrence Thunder midget AA program before completing her minor hockey career with the Wildcats of the top-level Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
"It was a pretty tough year for us but definitely a learning experience," Dowdall says looking back on the past season, the team's inaugural year in the PWHL. "We had a pretty small team so I got quite a bit of ice time which was nice."
While the victories were hard to come by, McLaughlin says Dowdall remained upbeat and served as a tremendous role model for the other players.
"She's a coach's dream in terms of her work ethic," she said.
On the ice, Dowdall ended the year fifth in team scoring with eight goals and six assists. Her coach says she's relentless in working both ends of the rink.
"She brings it all," McLaughlin said. "She plays big...like a Martin St. Louis."
Dowdall says she tried to make the most of her opportunity to get noticed by recruiters. She received interest from Castleton (Vermont), Neumann and SUNY Oswego, but eventually chose Utica.
"I just felt more comfortable with somewhere closer (to Smiths Falls)," she said. "It just felt right."
After speaking to Utica Pioneers assistant coach Stephanie Yates, she visited the campus after Christmas and liked what she saw.
"It's not a huge college which is nice for me coming from a small town," she said.
The Pioneers reached the semifinals of the ECAC Div. III West Women's Conference tournament, dropping a 2-0 decision to number-two ranked RIT. Nine seniors are graduating this spring, opening up a number of spots on the roster.
Dowdall says she had a chance to meet with head coach Dave Clausen who told her they like her speed and her drive.
"He said he could tell I have heart when I play," she said.
The daughter of Dave and Tracy Dowdall says she's able to play all three forward positions and in any situations - 5 on 5, power play and penalty kill. With that sort of versatility, the Pioneers told her they will likely find a regular role for the freshman next season.
"That sparked my interest...to go there and get a lot of playing time," Dowdall said.
Her international scholarship will cover tuition and residence costs and help her on her way toward a future career in teaching.
"I've had some great teachers throughout school," the SFDCI graduate said. "I've always enjoyed school and done very well."
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